Must The Specials Record A New Album?

The party started in April 2009 – that’s when The Specials went on their 30th Anniversary Tour with sold-out shows around the UK. Gigs in Australia, Japan, the USA, Canada and festival appearances throughout Europe followed. On the way the 2Tone heroes picked up an Inspiration Award by Britain’s quality music magazine Q and regained international celebrity status. The next tour with UK dates scheduled for fall 2010 is already sold out. It soon became clear that the reunion was a huge success. The controversy around former bandleader Jerry Dammers being banned from the reunion was reduced to a footnote. His nagging couldn’t stop the fun.

But wait a minute …. What about the new album with original material that The Specials have promised?

Already in 2008, with the first announcements of the reunion, singer Terry Hall talked about booking studio time. According to the BBC quote, the band was to go into the studio first and then on tour. If that was the original plan, fundamental changes have been made. Two years later nothing has been recorded yet. As Marco On The Bass reports, drummer John Bradbury has recently “confirmed during an interview with BBC 6 that the Specials will record again …”. In Bradbury’s words: It’ll be different to what we’ve done just because it has to be really. We can’t keep doing the same set …”. Does that sound like a band eager to start recording?

Imagine The Specials are really going for another album. How can they make it happen?

It’s one thing to play the old songs with a (competent) stand-in organ player. It’s a completely different story to create a new musical vision. In his Grapevine blog {http://www.thespecials.com/grapevine/?p=375} bass player Horace Gentleman hints at The Specials being a collective with equal rights now. Which might work if you need to decide on a setlist or a tour plan. But a new direction? Can The Specials avoid ending up like a football team without a manager, an orchestra without a conductor, a chicken without a head?

The void after Jerry Dammers’ seclusion must be filled. But how?

Four scenarios seem feasible:

Scenario No 1
One or two members of The Specials will take responsibility as the band’s driving forces. The best pick would probably be Terry Hall, because he has proven more than once to have a unique musical vision. Others like Roddy Byers or Lynval Golding might be able to contribute (great) songs, but they may not be in the position to take the lead in this fragile collective. The question is: If Terry Hall is ABLE to do it, is he WILLING to?

Probability for this scenario: High, but it could also be a frustrating trip leading into a dead-end street.

Scenario No 2
The Specials ask for help from outside. A list of people coming to mind:

– John Collins (producer of The Specials’ biggest single “Ghost Town”), a man to trust.
– Elvis Costello (producer of the first album), always up for an interesting project.
– Damon Albarn (the singer/composer for Blur, Gorillaz and many more) has worked with Terry Hall before and grew up with 2Tone.
– Sly & Robbie (the Jamaican producer duo) are experienced in furnishing dance music with an edge.

Probability for this scenario: Not very high, though some guest appearances are to be expected (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen).

Scenario No 3
The Specials reappoint Jerry Dammers. Remembering Terry Hall’s words “the door remains open for him” { http://www.nme.com/news/the-specials/41400 } it would be very interesting to see if Jerry’s comeback would make the party complete. Or smash it.

Probability for this scenario: Close to null, too much has happened.

Scenario No 4
The Specials throw together some cover songs for a “new” album. Something which looks like the easiest way to go would probably turn the affair into a comeback without “dignity”, a thing that Terry Hall was anxious to avoid by all means.

Probability for this scenario: Hm, no.

Or will history repeat itself and Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples declare the end of the 2Tone party next year: just in time for Fun Boy Three’s 30th anniversary? We shouldn’t be surprised. What do you think will happen?

http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2010/09/specials-next-move-more-touring-album.htmlda